Overview & Reviews

Originating in the latter half of the 1990s, the Toyota RAV4 was one of the first entries in the small crossover SUV market. Almost two decades later, today's RAV4 is considerably larger than that pint-sized original, but the core appeal of versatility, good fuel economy and favorable on-road manners are firmly intact.

The RAV4 has been very popular with consumers through the years, so there are going to be plenty to choose from if you're searching for a used model. The newest third- and fourth-generation RAV4s are the most family-friendly and come with the most features, but an older RAV4 should still appeal to young families and urban singles in search of a reliable compact crossover SUV.

Current Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is offered in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels. All have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard and buyers can choose either front- or all-wheel drive. With an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in combined driving, the RAV4 is as fuel-efficient as its competitors.

Base LE standard feature highlights include air-conditioning, reclining second-row seats, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a touchscreen interface and iPod/USB integration. The XLE adds alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control and sport front seats. The Limited features bigger wheels, a power liftgate, keyless ignition/entry, a power driver seat, heated front seats and faux leather upholstery.
Major options, depending on the trim level, include automatic high beams, blind-spot/lane-departure warning, Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system, a navigation system and premium audio.

In reviews, we've found that this RAV4 gets just about everything right. Its roomy cabin boasts more cargo room than most rivals and provides ample seating space for adults both front and rear. The overall interior design is modern looking, and the Entune system provides useful smartphone app integration, although the touchscreen's virtual buttons can sometimes be finicky to use. There's no engine upgrade available, but the RAV4's 2.5-liter four is refined and adequately powerful. Handling is secure, and the all-wheel-drive system adds further athleticism on curvy and slippery road surfaces. In the interest of comfort, we recommend the smaller wheel options, as the 18-inch wheels tend to have a rougher ride quality.

Used Toyota RAV4 Models
The current, fourth-generation RAV4 debuted for 2013. It maintained the typical RAV4 strengths of carlike driving manners, versatile cargo and passenger configurations and all-around comfort. It's about the same size as the previous generation, but has bolder styling, a more modern interior and some new features. It also has an easier-to-use, top-hinged liftgate instead of the previous swing-out gate, though the previously available third-row seat was discontinued. There have been no notable changes since its debut.

The previous Toyota RAV4 represented the third generation, which Toyota produced from 2006-'12. Compared to earlier models, these RAV4s were bigger and offered an available V6 engine and third-row seat.

In its inaugural third-generation year, two engine choices were offered. A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine delivered 166 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque, while a 3.5-liter V6 produced 269 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque. Automatic transmissions were standard, with the four-cylinder paired with a four-speed, while the V6 received a five-speed unit.

Three trim levels were also offered: base, Sport and Limited. Base feature highlights included air-conditioning, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat and full power accessories. The Sport added 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and a roof rack, while the Limited topped it off with 17-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat and an upgraded audio system. A third-row seat, a moonroof, leather upholstery and a DVD-based rear entertainment system were options on upper level trims.

We praised these models for their pleasant driving manners and convenient cargo space, but deducted points for the side-hinged rear gate and noticeable road noise. We also preferred the powerful V6 over the base four-cylinder engine that suffered with its outdated transmission and mediocre fuel economy.

Changes since its debut were minimal but included additional standard airbags in 2007, a slight styling update in 2009 (with an external spare-tire delete option) and a power increase for the four-cylinder engine (from 166 hp to 179 hp). A newly available touchscreen audio interface and Toyota's Entune smartphone apps were introduced for 2012.

The second-generation Toyota RAV4 (2001-'05) was larger than the original RAV4, with more expressive styling and innovative removable second-row seats that gave it truly impressive cargo-carrying capabilities. Early models had a 148-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that came up short versus the larger four- and six-cylinder engines offered by competitors. Toyota addressed this to some extent in 2004 by replacing the 2.0-liter with a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 160 hp. Acceleration was markedly improved, and buyers could still choose a manual or automatic transmission. Overall, we found this RAV4 to be a fun-to-drive urban runabout thanks to its precise suspension tuning and high fuel economy ratings.

The first-generation Toyota RAV4 (1996-2000) was offered in two-door and four-door body styles, with a convertible version for a brief period. The first-gen RAV4 was appealing to young singles, but due to its narrow width and tight rear legroom, this cute ute was ultimately no substitute for a traditional family vehicle. Advantages included carlike handling, a low cargo floor and a large rear door that made loading cargo a breeze.

User Reviews:

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  2-RAV Family - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By 2 RAVs - August 10 - 3:30 pm

  I loved my first RAV4 I purchased in March of 1998 and hated the thought of ever trading it in. When a van we had finally died, we replaced it with a 2005 RAV4- I hated looking at anything else because the RAV has been so dependable, it seemed silly to consider a different car. We thought about a different Toyota, but the size of the RAV is perfect for city driving and so comfortable on the open road. We have three growing kids between the ages of 7 and 14 and while the older RAV had a smaller back seat- the newer one has plenty of room for all three kids- and no complaining! I love the added get up and go in the 05. Its a great car Id buy again.. maybe well go for three!

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  Love my RAV! - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Judy - August 9 - 4:50 pm

  My 2009 RAV4 Limited with 4wd is my first RAV, but will not be my last! I have owned two Jeep Grand Cherokee Limiteds previously, but didnt need a big SUV any longer. The size is perfect. It handles so well--a joy to drive. I really love this vehicle and highly recommend to anyone looking for a smaller SUV.

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  What a let down! - 2001 Toyota RAV4
  By Fooled by the Hype - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the vehicle for less than a year and Ive had the brakes replaced (this was one of their technical service bullitens--a recall they didnt want me to know about until after the brakes failed and left me smashed at the bottom of a cliff somewhere), new pads put on, the stereo has had to be replaced--all this on top of its horribly slow pick up (transmission wont shift until it warms up), and other odd noises that make me question the reliability almost daily! Ive had enough--Im trading in this piece of @#!* for a Hyundai! Toyota really blew it for me--Im telling everyone I know and Ill probably never buy one again!!

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  Best Choice - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Tricia - August 5 - 10:13 pm

  I Spent a lot of time looking for a car and the Toyota Rav 4 has everything i could ask for and more. It comes with so much for a great price.

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  Great car, but some drawbacks - 1998 Toyota RAV4
  By rainman - August 3 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car and put 50K on it without any problems. It drives great, is very comfortable, and nible around corners. Its just a pretty fun car to drive. I drove it across the cascases during the winter a few times and it works on the snow with ease. I would recommend this car for anyone. But there are some bad points: its engine is very week. The gas mileage wasnt as good as I thought it would be and its pretty damn noisy. Everything else about it was excellent, especially its reliability. The only thing ive had to do was give it the old oil change every 3K.

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  rav4 at 85,000 miles - 2005 Toyota RAV4
  By Corey - August 1 - 8:43 am

  I have had my Rav4 since 2006 and did not have to many issues at the time. At about 75,000 miles the alternator went out and is the biggest pain to get fixed due to the connector being a special piece from the rest. Since I got the car in 2006 it had a knocking noise in the engine that no one can seem to figure out. The gas has a severe hesitation and should probably be on a recall. It takes about 2-3 seconds from the time you step on the gas till the car preforms. Once it kicks in, it jerks very badly. Very easy to drive, almost like a go kart.

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  Great Car/Cruise Control Worthless - 2007 Toyota RAV4
  By Don - July 30 - 1:23 am

  Layout and design is the best out of all the other SUVs I have looked at. More leg room in rear than any other SUV. Overall it is just what I was looking for. Fuel mileage is acceptable and power is good for a 4 cylinder. Handling and ride are good along with attention to detail when building. If you buy this vehicle just dont plan on using cruise control if you get a 4 cylinder version. You will not be happy with the way it performs. Before you buy do a search for 06 and 07 RAV4 cruise control problems and you will see what I am talking about. Toyota dropped the ball on this one.

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  Carloss Toy - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By BuddyBoy - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I have owed my 2002 Rav4 for 5 months now and driven it 9,000 miles. On back roads it does great, takes the curves like a little sports car. I get 24 miles per gallon. Good ride. Does great on the highway except when you go up prolonged uphill grades, the car wants to kick in and out of passing gear. The major complaint that I have about this vehicle is the passing gear. Do not try to pass someone on a 2 lane road except when you have a lot of time to do it. When you punch the accelerator down into passing gear, you think the car is going to take off like a rocket, but when you pull out into the passing lane the vehicle doesnt go anywhere.

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  Worth how much you pay for it - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By RSKamath - July 25 - 3:07 pm

  I bought this car for my wife who loves SUVs and this one is no exception. I bought it 22k miles and it has served both of us very well in the past 2 years. We are now closing on 60k miles and so far we have only had to replace the Stock tires at 30k miles - which was the only bad thing we thought. Other than that we have stuck to a good 6-7k maintenance schedule and havent had any problems with it. Some cabin noises such as squeaks and the brakes groan a bit.. but apart from that it does what it is built for. The V6 has amazing passing power and can really get off the line pretty quick. I have put the care through the paces and it hasnt let me down so far. Excellent room for moving etc. - we were able to stuff a LOT of furniture in our car and it just drove without even a slight lag. Good gas mileage for an SUV - I average 25 mpg with about 50% highway driving.

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  Its a fun car - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By webernoot - July 25 - 10:00 am

  Ive always wanted an SUV and I hit a homerun with this one. For a single person, its the perfect size, its cute, sporty,comfortable, and so much fun to drive.